Tenured South Carolina short track promoter Charlie Powell died on Saturday after contracting COVID-19.
He was 83.
Powell formerly operated Summerville Speedway and was the owner of Florence Motor Speedway until selling it to the current promotional group of Myrtle Beach Speedway last month. That group is spearheaded by Steve Zacharias.
Powell was also the father of 1988 NASCAR Weekly Series National Champion Robert Powell and regional Late Model champion Charles Powell, III. He was named the 1996 national promoter of the year.
” I’m not too good at this, especially right now, but my dad, Charlie Powell, passed away this afternoon,” Charles Powell, III, said in a public Facebook post. “He gave at least 60 years of his life to racing and he loved it. He was my hero and my best friend and this is going to be the hardest thing I ever had to do these next few days.”
Florence Motor Speedway also issued a statement to its Facebook page.
” It is with profound sadness to address the passing of one of the greatest people to ever grace short track racing, especially down here in the Southeast. This is never a post we would ever want to deliver, but with our deepest regret, we have unfortunately lost Charlie Powell. Charlie was and always will be a true pioneer of short track racing down in our area and he never shied away from putting in the work and relentless effort to make short track racing survive.
” Mr. Charlie will be forever missed but he will always obtain the high amount of respect that he so greatly deserves. Thank you sir for everything you have done and more importantly, thank you for being who you are and always being so passionate bout what you love. We ask that everyone keep the family and friends in prayer.”
Read more Short Track Scene:
